Beachside/Flagler Avenue

(Photo by Dale Smith). Adele Aletti, owner of Gone Bonkers, 314 Flagler Ave., wraps festive garland around the handrails of her shop, as she readies for Light up Flagler on Friday and NSB Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – When Adele Aletti made the decision to move to New Smyrna Beach in 1988 to open a store on Flagler Avenue, she said she thought she had gone bonkers.

“Really, I did,” she said Monday, remembering having second thoughts of “Oh, what have I done?”